Godin 5th Avenue CW Kingpin II P90 Hollowbody Electric Guitar with Case - Cognac Burst Reviews

I was looking for an inexpensive hollowbody, and after some search I wound up with this Godin. This was because of the reviews here and also the wonderful Youtube demos of the Kingpin by Jazz guitarist Jim Soloway. I also own a Godin XTSA, which is sort of the opposite kind of guitar from this one, so I was familiar with the brand. I got the lower-priced no-case version, so I could really protect it with the Sweetwater recommended "Certified Fit" Gator hardshell case - The Godin TRIC case has decidedly mixed reviews. The price increase between this version and the no-case one with the Gator case added was about $60. That's cheap insurance for a far better case.

The guitar is surprisingly light and the laminated top is very thin - Even with fitted pickups and a pickguard, this guitar is as loud acoustically as a parlor guitar, with a similar tone. When playing this instrument at bedroom volumes using either of my amps (a Roland JC-40 and a Boogie Mark IV), I need to run the volume up a tad more than usual to hear the electric sound over the acoustic. While I'm sure this thing will make whale mating noises at high volume, I've had no issues with feedback at the volume at which I normally play. As for the electric sound, the Godin P-90s will do everything from woody jazz tones to snarly overdriven George Thorogood raunch. So far, there's no need for me to think about replacing these. And, at least on my guitar, the tone control works over an absurdly wide range - To the point where you can spin it quickly with your pinky to make fake wah sounds.

But this being a budget hollowbody, there are few compromises. There are isolated pinholes in the finish that should have been caught in quality control. And after I replaced the original 12 gauge roundwounds with 10 flatwounds, I noticed some loud atonal resonances from the upper strings south of the bridge. A strip of Velcro between the bridge and tailpiece solved the issue easily, and I'll live with the finish flaws.

On the whole, this guitar represents a fine value for the money, and sounds great. An instrument of this quality and this price made in North America is a wonderful thing.

Sounds gorgeous and plays nicely. I have owned many guitars and this is hands-down my favorite. Sounds amazing for jazz, but also handles pedals well and can produce a roaring distorted tone. The only surprise I've had is how noisy round-wound strings are on it when sliding up or down strings. It's not an issue for me as I prefer flat-wound, but the strings it ships with give you a "whicka-whicka-whick-whack" loud enough to keep up with anyone on a turn-table.

Ordered on Sweetwater app, was in my hands the next day - carefully packed and shipped as promised. Great service as all my purchases have been. Also, I appreciate Ryan Springer for the excellent service and assistance in making sure I had the perfect hard case to fit. Thanks Ryan!

Now for the review... and this guitar is amazing!!! I can't put it down, figuring out all the different tones and styles because I really can play acoustic, or plug in and get rock, blues, country, or jazz tones... all from one guitar! I like instruments that do something when you flip a switch or turn a knob, and the way these controls interact... just so dynamic and responsive. Also, and this is an absolute must for me, the guitar stays in tune through bends, and hard picking. It's also easy to play... with the short scale length.

One feature here is you have P90's on a hollow body, so either learn how to deal with (and/or use) feedback, or easily remove the feedback by engaging both pickups. There's always the option of custom ordering a humbucker in a P-90 casing if the feedback is too much for you... I dig it :)

It's such a cool, unique instrument, there's really nothing else like it, and certainly not for the price. Amazing choice for a new guitar student, experienced player looking for a change of pace, or any player who needs versatility and playability in a single instrument. I can't say enough about it, really does have it all.

Sweetwater, thanks so much!

This is my first Godin guitar and I am very impressed with the craftsmanship. This guitar really is fun to play and sounds beautiful.

This archtop has the sweetest sound, if you are looking for something sounding like the 30s and 40s big band and jazz sounds, you will do no better than this Godin. I spent several months before i decided on this guitar. after listening to the Gibson 33X guitars, the Gretch and everything else in the Hollowbody and Archtop category. I am very pleased with my final decision.

SOUNDS GREAT ACOUSTIC AND PLUGGED IN. LOVE THE GODIN P90 PICKUPS AND BEING MADE IN NORTH AMERICA! THE CASE IS BEYOND NICE,STAYS IN TUNE,NEEDED NO SET UP FOR ME, SOME MAY WANT TO LOWER THE ACTION AND TO TOP IT OFF IT IS BEAUTIFUL! I HAVE NOT BOTHERED TO OPEN MY ACOUSTICS SINCE I GOT IT. THANKS JEFF JENT FOR A GREAT DEAL.

I've had this guitar for a couple weeks now, and it is very difficult to put down. I have 49-11 strings on it and she rings like a bell. It is very light and responsive acoustically, not heavy and dull like the two Gibson ES-175's I used to have. I bought this used and for the price there is nothing even close to this model imo. The only negative thing I would say is about the case: it is basically styrofoam, and looks a little too funky for
my tastes. Anyway this is a wonderful instrument, built nicely and should last many years.

I’ve had my 5th Avenue for about a week and can’t put it down. The tone is great, very old school and I love the feel of the neck. It is so easy to play. It was set up perfectly. I’m have trouble getting excited about playing my other guitars (PRS, Seagull and Washburn) anymore because I’m so happy with the Godin. Finish is perfect, and I love the feel of the satin neck. It has a very thin neck And it makes it super easy and fast to play. Love the EJ21 strings too, makes sliding so easy. Thanks to Dave Dusire my Sweetwater SE.

Great build quality, wonderful sound, exceptional customer service!

Beware! I have owned this guitar for at least 5 years now, so I feel it's a good time to write a review. When I first got the guitar, I felt like all the other reviewers: it was a great guitar. It does have a pretty unique tone, but it's very useable and the guitar has so much variation in it's tone, it can fit most any situation. I did have problems with it breaking the 6th string whenever I put it on the wall hanger. It was pretty inconvenient until I found out why. Just recently, I found a need for this particular guitar, so I went to do all the maintenance on, and that's when I discovered some signs of poor Manufacturing. First the nut was not glued down. Then where the strings feed through the bridge has a cheap piece of self adhesive felt that was coming off, made for a more difficult time changing the strings. I still really like the guitar, but it is just a little disappointing to see the lack of quality.

The longer I play this the better I like it. I purchased looking to add a P90 equipped guitar to my collection and as I had nothing like an archtop it was all to the better. First, craftsmanship is solid for a guitar at this price point. The wood is wild cherry-again a less common tone wood that has it"s own sound. I find the neck extremely comfortable and it feels a lot like the Gibson "60"s style neck profile. The tuners seem of good quality. The P90"s are ferocious and I am now a P90 fan! This guitar also sounds good acoustically and as such, plugged in, will feedback and can get away from you fast! But as I am becoming more familiar with it, I can control and use the feedback musically. So much fun. Stays in tune. Frets were well dressed. Neck pup is somewhat dark and mid-rangey in a good way, bridge pup is smooth and bright without being overly spikey. Personally I like using both in the middle position. Seriously sounds good. Amps used-Peavey Classic 50 410, Marshall Vintage Modern into matching V30 loaded 4x12, Mesa Lonestar 2x12, Vox Night Train as well as several amp modeling programs in the studio. There is a design feature involving how the pots are wired and I think a circuit board is used. To me that makes no difference to this guitars sound but if you like changing out pups just check it out. I recommend highly.

Waited a few months to write this review as I wanted to get well acquainted with this beautiful guitar. Fit and finish are impeccable and the faux polish treatment impressive, Had the crew at Sweetwater install some GHS boomers mediums and do a complete set up as necessitated by the gauge change. Great job with string height and bridge adjustment. Jazz just is not my thing so I tried to get a different vibe. Man this guitar really sounds fantastic...either played acoustically or plugged into my 22W Bugera. This was my 1st adventure into P90 land and I was not disappointed. Them dogs really bark! I can go from Dylan to Neil and most areas in between. Many thanks to Steve and the tech crew for delivering the goods.

Incredible tone, from clean to hard core dirty. I have been looking for a P90 hollow body to complement my Gretsch. Love the feed back tones on the bass end. The airy string sound is awesome. Put dual controls on this baby you have a ES 330 ..

love the sound acoustically and plugged into any one of my 5 tube amps.nice even sound in any of the three switch positions. love the P90,s .The neck I find so comfortable as well as the body.Sounds great soloing high up on the neck acoustically,most acoustics I have played seem to lose it up there. Adam Cesarz and the other Sweetwater Guys are so great to work with!!!Cant thank them enough for their patience and help!!! I've had the kingpin 4 months now and can't hardly stop staring at and holding her even when I am not playing. Just love this beauty!!!! Thanks to Mr. Godin !!!

This is my first venture into the world of electric guitars and did I choose a good one. The Godin 5th Ave Kingpin II is a unique instrument. There's quite simply nothing else on the market like it. What's more is it sounds as good as it looks...lead licks on the bridge pickup soar above the band, and the fingerboard pickup is just so sweet. It's almost as if it sings beautiful lullabies all by itself. This is an instrument I just cannot put down. Thanks to Ryan and the Sweetwater team for helping me find this gem.

I treated my self a few years ago to my first Godin a 5th Ave Kingpin 2 and I must say I was really impressed. The guitar plays fantastic, sounds incredible and looks beautiful. I play at home and at our church. You can select clean tones and jazzy or go for the shredding. I assure you, you will not regret getting one of these. Godin does a great job building their instruments. I am now looking to add another guitar from the Godin family the La Patrie Collection.
Go for it treat your self, you deserve it and once you own one I can assure you that you will even practice and play more.
Enjoy
Ben

I bought one of these used a few years ago at a price slightly lower than this. It is amazing. And at this price it is priceless. Buy it, now! Before they decide to not make it.

This is my first arch top, so I don't have anything to compare it to. Out of the box its truly a beautiful guitar. Fit and finish is excellent. It plays well and sounds great. Not as much sustain as I'd hoped, but I can correct that with my amp. As far as looks, sound and play-ability, I have no complaints. However, I do have some negative comments. First, the piece of junk case. I will get a truly good hard case as soon as I can. Also, the only item that comes with this is a truss rod wrench. You get no manual, no brochure, no strap, no pick--nothing. Godin should assume the buyer needs some instruction and should at least send some information on changing strings--don't take them all off at once or the bridge will fall off. What strings are recommended? And, most of all, how to adjust the adjustable bridge. With the lack of attention to these areas, kinda leaves a sour taste in ones mouth for Godin. Bottom line is that its a very beautiful guitar which sounds excellent. Remember, its an entry level arch top, so don't expect much, because you ain't gonna get much. Thank goodness for the internet. There, I can get all the information I need that Godin was incapable of providing.

I waited a bit to write this but now that I've had the guitar for a month or so and have done 3-4 gigs with I'll go for it. First, this is a fantastic guitar with workmanship that rivals or exceeds much pricer guitars. I've read reviews complaining on the tuners and all I can say is they must have fixed the issue because this thing tunes and stays in tune as good as any guitar I've owned.
The neck plays wonderfully. This was a HUGE concern buying a guitar online but I consider this one of two guitars of many I've owned that actually draws out the better player in me (The other was a PRS CE24).
Sound wise it took a little tweaking. Since this was bought to play acoustically & electrically I thought the low end acoustic sound was real thin out of the box with D'Addario electric strings I had Sweetwater set it up with. Fortunately I had a set of D'Addario EXP acoustic strings and now the sound is pretty full. I had to lower the treble pickup poles under the hi E & B strings to get rid of an edgy sound on picking upstrokes and the floating bridge arrived crooked.
All in all it's a really great guitar and worth a try if your looking for that sweet semi hollow body sound and it gets an edge if you push it a bit.
(I also had to sand the rear edge on the pickguard, real sharp and painfully snagged my little finger a couple of times)
Now that everything is set up and tweaked how I want it I couldn't be happier and am also satisfied with Sweetwaters service. Buying guitars online is a scary business and they try to make it palatable.

I am a Godin fan and own two Artist Series acoustics, their 12 string cedar top acoustic, and SD 22 solid body electric guitar. The Kingpin II in cognac burst is a wonderful addition to my collection. The guitar is extremely well made with outstanding fit and finish. The "french violin" finish is unique and absolutely gorgeous. This guitar has beautiful tones and the P-90s were a perfect choice for this hollow-body archtop and provide versatile tones. Guitar arrived in perfect order and was ready to go right out of the box.

I've had this guitar for about two years now. I didn't want to review right away because hadn't yet bought found the gear I wanted. And that day finally came.

I play through a Fender Blues Jr. III. And d*** does this thing sing. (When I first read reviews, there were comments that it sounded "thin" while plugged in. This was actually accurate...but only because when it first arrived, I only had an vintage hand me down Roland JC-55. A good solid state amp for cleans. But not a good amount for this guitar).

My Godin has plentiful punch from its p90 pick-ups, and the dynamics are out of this world. The sustain isn't as lasting as a solid body, obviously, but thats not what this thing is for (not to mention, it's something your compressor pedal can help with). My flatwounds play like butter. I used to prefer the feel of heavy gauge (56-13's). But the tone is sweeter with lights (50-11's).

Single-coil hum happens. Just make sure you use clean power and buy a hum-killer. A good one that preserves your gorgeous tone (electro-harmonics makes one)!

• looks are to kill for (even better in person)
• the single tone knob and 3-way switch is super versatile
• Absurdly well built
• Pick-ups are keepers
• Intonation is phenomenal

It missed a half a star because the included tuners are paper-weights. Lol... Easily forgiveable. I bought Grover's (butter beans). Had my guitar tech do some fitting and presto, I have a versatile blues/jazz guitar.

Here's the takeaway: If you are patient in honing your tone, you will love this guitar. It's not a Strat. It's a vintage inspired full hollowbody. Take your time. Have fun. Pull the trigger on this one. I'm glad I did.
Cheers!

p.s. huge thanks to my rep Aaron.

I have had this guitar for about three weeks now and absolutely no buyer's remorse. It's light with a comfortable neck, very playable. The action is perfect, thanks for the great setup. The pickups are even-tempered, with the middle position my favorite. I bought mine as a demo with minuscule scratches that are barely able to be seen. As a matter of fact, if I don't look at the reference photos, I can't find them. My SW rep, Dave Walent, is always helpful and gave me good advice on this one. The case is great, too - it's Godin's wonderful soft-side TRIC case.

This guitar is my first Godin and I must say I'm quite pleased with it. The action was setup well out of the box, the hardware and finish are amazing and the sound is clear, with each string ringing out for a truly melodious combination. Playing all the way up the neck yields the same clarity and ease of fretting.

I must admit I was leary of ordering this guitar as I had never had a chance to play a Godin but it is an excellent instrument and I'm glad I got it.

Having recently started studying with a Jazz teacher, I decided to invest in a hollow body guitar. After a number of weeks reading reviews, watching youtube demos, reading message board threads and not finding anything negative, I decided to take a chance and order the Godin Kingpin II CW without having played it (scary right?).

The guitar TOTALLY lived up to everything I read. It really is a fantastic guitar and outplays anything in it's class (and I did try a number of guitars by other manufacturers). Unplugged, the guitar projects much more than I expected - certainly not as loud or deep as my dreadnaught acoustic but still louder than expected and nicely resonant - think output more like a parlor guitar. Plugged in, the P90s provide tones ranging from twang in the bridge to rock in the middle position, to old school jazz in the neck position. It arrived from Sweetwater packed very well and was perfectly in tune when I pulled it from the case! The finish is low gloss and really looks even nicer than the pictures illustrate, good as they are.

The case is a bit different from any case I have owned previously. Not a hard shell but much more than a gig bag. The outside is made from same nylon material you would find in a gig bag wrapped around a foam core, which appears to be similar to that found in bicycle helmets, offers impact protection front, back and side to side while being super light in weight. Probably not something you'd want to put on a plane or in the back of a trailer for gigging but perfect for carrying lessons, rehearsals, and gigs.

Couldn't be more pleased with my purchase and Sweetwater's service!

Such a well made guitar, for the price it's a really great buy. Love the P-90 pickups. The rolled edge of the fretboard is a nice touch. Beautiful cherry top, I'm really enjoying this 5th Avenue. You tube it and you can see it in action.

Crazy sweet guitar This puppy plays soon nice. Be surprised for a good priced hollow. Gorgeous looks vintage.

I am an adult amateur player and guitar collector. My guitars have ebbed and flowed over the years but I have owned over 20. I currently have 7 and this one is the best of the lot. Initially I intended to put creamery p-90's in it, but once I heard the Godin p-90's there was no need. They are the quietest smoothest sounding pickups... I could not believe how wonderful they sound. I also got Thomastik and D'Addario jazz and gypsy jazz strings at first but did not like how dead they sounded. I ended up using D'Addario phospher bronze light acoustic strings to get the tone I wanted. Amplified it sounds good clean or with mild bluesy distortion. Acoustic it sounds as good as ANY hollow body electric I have been around (including lower end Gibsons, higher end Gretsch, Ibanez, Eastman). To me personally it feels like a very well set up Taylor 300 series. The only modification I have made is the addition of a bone nut and setup by my luthier. Others have complained mildly about the tuners or the lack of a lot of visible binding on the front. IMO binding is a personal preference... and the tuners on mine feel and work just right. I have done a fair amount of research over the years, and believe the 5th avenue to be the best sub $1000 jazz box on the market. This will be a guitar I keep forever and pass down to my kids.

Godin 5th Avenue CW HB

So it sounds good when you play music such as jazz and R & B is perfect in the studio , very light and very beautiful .

I got this guitar a few days ago, and though friends of mine told me I would love it, I had no idea how much. If have been disappointed more than a few times ordering guitars on line, and most purchases were easily refunded no questions asked. So I'm not saying buying on line is a bad thing. And it certainly is never a problem with Sweetwater.

The first thing I noticed, before opening the box, was how light it is. Even with the case, the guitar is like a feather. When I got it out of the box...which thanks to Sweetwater is ALWAYS a pain in the neck because of how securely they pack stuff, I couldn't believe the way the guitar feels and plays. Might need some setup when I change the strings, but out of the box this thing is amazing. Smaller scale, (than a D-28) but the feel is incredible The neck is a perfect fit, at least for my hands. I knew as soon as I started playing it I had my next "go to" axe.

How does it look? This finish is reminiscent of the old "french polish" violin look. Of course, it's not done that way. Who could afford that anymore? But it is an unusually beautiful instrument.

I didn't know much about this manufacturer. I was playing an open jam session a couple of weeks ago, and a guy came in with a Godin guitar. An acoustic guitar, that just sounded tremendous. I was impressed with the finish and quality of his guitar. So when I got the chance to buy this, after my wife told me she likes arch tops and who am I to disappoint my wife, I saw this and decided to buy it for her. *HEAVY SARCASM ALERT. I wish I had the words to adequately describe how much I'm digging this guitar. GET ONE.

I have been using Sweetwater for the last several years for all my music needs for either, myself or for the church... And I must say always a joy do work with them.. Jeff Barnett is exceptional with live sound... Speaking of live sound I must say that this peace of art the Godin 5th Avenue CW Kingpin II fit like a glove as soon as I picked her, (Yes her) up... I wanted something different for leading worship at church on special events or Sunday morning... Was leaning towards an electric semi hollow and nothing felt good... "the guitar chooses you :)"

The only reason I am giving it a 4 is because I have not got all the tones figured out... So can't say that she is perfect but from what I know after a few day is this, the tone unplug is nice, can be used for quiet moments or unplugged environment that allows freedom to express with picking, rhythm, etc... Plug it in and now you got different tones at your fingers tips... Looking forward to playing this on Sunday morning, at home, and so on... And Man she is BEAUTIFUL!!! Love the P-90 tones... Excited!!!

My husband Loves his new guitar!

Very good guitar but with the cheapest tuners I've ever seen on a quality guitar--also I'm not sure the floating fretboard end is a good idea-----also bought a Le Marquis Chinese guitar which is almost a spitting image Except it has excellent tuners and 2 volume and tone controls---the fit and finish are excellent (check out the back) and at a fraction of the price of the Godin---it is a better value than the Godin and sounds great

Ordered this guitar based on reviews and seeing one on TV. Got it quick from the great team of Jeff and Kevin at Sweetwater. Tried it for a few days a was very impressed with the details of this beauty. However it just didn't feel right in my hands, so I returned it. Keep in mind, I've tried custom made high end $ guitars that didn't feel right or had the craftsmanship of this Godin. It is very well made and a bargain at this price. Bottom line, You can't go wrong working with Sweetwater.

I bought a new Kingpin CW II about a year ago from Sweetwater after reading a bunch of positive reviews. I never owned an arch top, and always wanted a Gibson ES-335, so for the price, I thought the Kingpin CW II would be a good substitute.
Well over a year of trying to like it, I just sold it and had to take a beating on price as there are lots of them for sale. I tried numerous types of strings, different amps and amp effects, but it just always sounded very weak and thin for me. It was, however, a very beautiful guitar and well constructed, especially for the price.

My advice is to play one first and make your own decision.

It is, in my opinion, an electric guitar as it just does not sound or project well when not plugged it.

Also, the Tric case is a joke. I purchased a hard case made by Road Runner for $100.00 to protect the guitar better.

I had been wanting to add a full hollow body guitar to my collection for a long time. (Clearly guitar ownership is a sickness where what you own is never enough). Not wanting strictly a jazz box, I did research and was very impressed with this guitar, especially the reviews which to a one had nothing negative to say.

This past Christmas I broke down (well after my wife gave the OK) and pulled the trigger on this guitar and a new amp as well. Often what we desire doesn’t live up to the expectations. This is an exception.

First off, this is simply a beautiful guitar. This has quickly become my favorite. I’m a big guy and it’s still very comfortable, the tone is terrific and paired with a Ibanez Tube Screamer peddle it provides just enough punch for great blues tones while on a clean channel the guitar sounds wonderful in its own right. My only complaint is that when I take it to my guitar lesson my teacher grabs it and I don’t seem to get it back for the entire half hour (LOL). Clearly he needs his own.

EXCELLENT ARCHTOP FOR A DECENT PRICE, A MUST HAVE! BEAUTIFUL CONSTRUCTION WITH ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND PLAYS LIKE BUTTER!

When it comes to buying guitars or accessories online I will only use Sweetwater Guitars. Their service was simply OUTSTANDING! My guitar arrived on time and in PERFECT shape. My Godin Kingpin II plays like "butta", the frets were dressed perfectly & the neck relief is set perfectly. The action is set low as I requested. I had Sweetwater change the tuners to Grover Imperials before the guitar was shipped and techs accomplished an excellent job without any scratches to the headstock.

Great workmanship. Nice look and very nice sound even without the amp. Easy finger board. Great that it is not made in China. I am very satisfied after playing it for 3 days. It has made an impression on me and some of my friends

I've had one of these for a year now. Time, and the recent purchase of a comparably priced Gretsch G5420T archtop that had serious quality control problems, has made me appreciate the Godin all the more. The tone, playability, and fit and finish are excellent for the price (and it is gorgeous). I marked it down a little bit for three reasons:
1.) The buttons on the tuners are tiny and unpleasant to manipulate, and cannot be replaced. I swapped the tuners out for 16:1 Grover Imperials.
2.) The placement of the notches for the E and B strings on the bridge was way off, despite the fact that the bridge is positioned exactly where it should be. I refiled the notches so that the strings are now directly above the pickup pole screws.
3.) The TRIC case is butt-ugly junk. In just ten months the foam on mine shrank, pulling away from the hinges and making for a poor seal. I replaced it with a Roadrunner archtop case, which is much better except that the seal is still not great.

Loving this guitar more every day....

I've had a lot of guitars over the years, and I don't usually review products but this guitar is stunning. The sound quality is amazing, and you can achieve a lot of sounds with the two pickups. The craftsmanship is unbelievable for the price. I would recommend this to anyone.

I spent a good long time looking for a hollow or semi-hollow electric guitar with P-90s, I played everyone that I could get my hands on, including several guitars from companies I wouldn't normally consider. I couldn't be happier that I did. The Godin 5th Avenue CW Kingpin II feels amazing, plays like a dream, and sounds fantastic. What's more, there's a certain novelty to owning a Canadian-made guitar that's constructed from rapidly renewable resources, and build with the kind of care you'd never expect from a self-important American guitar company. The Godin 5th Avenue CW Kingpin II totally blew away every other similar guitar he played, which made buying one one of the easiest decisions I've ever made. I simply couldn't recommend this guitar highly enough.

It is the perfect guitar for me as it serves not only as a good Jazz and Blues guitar, but does just smashing for other genres.

A fine guitar for that more acoustic oriented feel but whips up a big and deep tone when hooked up to the amp.

It is a wonderful buy at such a good price.
This 100% Beauty is definitely value for $$$!

This arrived from Sweetwater within 48 hours after I ordered it in mint condition. The hard case is unusual, it is made of high grade foam. The guitar is not large and is exceptionally responsive to picking dynamics. Instant back porch blues and jazz pours right out from this guitar, Really plays well, the action is very low with no buzzing. Sounds vintage through a powerful amp like my 100 watt Marshall tube. Very clear sound, the pickups are also quite responsive. No noise no hum here. I have the cognac color but the burgundy looks appealing also. Smaller and more cozy than say the new Gretsch Tim Armstrong hollowbody. With the case the whole set up is very light on the go, I would say about 7 pounds with the case, A real winner here I am impressed with the quality of this manufacturer. If I did not already have enough solid body guitars I would also consider a Godin solid body such as the Icon 2.